Green Meme #1

Julie over at Towards Sustainability has tagged me for a meme. I have never done a meme before, but I figure that it is just like an interview for a green magazine, but kind of local (and not in a magazine!).

A well documented motivation of mine was attending a screening of An Inconvenient Truth back in September 2006. Before that date, I was just as ordinary as everyone else. I experienced many emotions after that movie, and went about changing my ways towards a sustainable lifestyle.

The second motivation is my family, and the future unborn generations to come. I want them to have a nice planet to live on, and not the trashed one we are creating at the moment.

2) Name 2 eco-UNfriendly items you refuse to give up?

I am not sure I have any left, maybe the PC, but it doesn’t draw much power. But seeing that I make my own, it is then not very eco-unfriendly. When I dispose of it, it will be recycled via a reputable e-waste processor.

Maybe my big screen rear projection TV, but once again, it draws much less power than an LCD or Plasma, so it is a vice I can live with.

3) Are you at peace with or do you feel guilty about number 2?

No, I am totally at peace with these two items. They are the greenest I can make them. I switch both off at the wall at night to avoid standby power.

4) What are you willing to change but feel unable to/stuck with/unsure how to go about it?

Greywater recycling is my biggest hurdle at the moment. I recycle the washing machine water onto the ornamental garden and fruit trees, but I would love to capture all of the waste water from the shower and bath. Unfortunately the outlet pipes are at ground level, and I would have to cut through 15 cm of concrete to install a decent system. Maybe sometime down the track, when I have run out of other projects and when we go to stage 4 water restrictions.

Yes, it is about 3.5 tonnes of CO2e per year, according to the calculator above. I buy GreenPower and GreenGas and Honda paid for carbon offsets for my car when I bought it. The big ticket items are food and clothing for us. We try and buy local food if we can’t grow or bake it ourselves, but it is so hard to get bread flour around here, so I get it from Adelaide. We still shop at Aldi for essentials , but only buy their Australian produce. The National average carbon footprint for Australia is 16.3 tonnes.

6) What’s eco-frustrating and/or eco-fantastic about where you live?

The eco-frustrating thing is that our local council has done the bare minimum to promote any type of climate change action besides the standard curb side recycling collection. They are improving, but not fast enough for me.

The eco-fantastic thing is there is actually an environment team employed by the council to heighten local awareness, but I don’t think they received much funding. The other thing is that I live here, so it can only get better. 😉

7) Do you eat local/organic/vegetarian/forage/grow your own?

We grow most of our own vegetables, but not enough to be self sufficient like in the Good Life. We do our best with the land we have, and practice organic gardening techniques. It is very hard to buy local in Melton, except if we make a special trip to Bacchus Marsh where there are large market gardens. It is about 15km away, so not too bad.

8) What do you personally find the most challenging in being green?

Watering the garden at 6am on a Sunday morning! No, really it is the frustration that I feel when I meet ignorant people who don’t care about our future. Unfortunately, I meet a lot of these types of people, but it is improving. However since the financial crisis, Climate change and the environment have taken a back seat, and that needs to change quickly. The Financial crisis will only last for a few years, but Climate Change will be with us for a very long time if we don’t change our ways soon.

9) Do you have a green confession?

I have a crush on Tanya Ha. I think she is a very cool lady. Don’t tell Kim or my green thumbs will be in a vice!

10) Do you have the support of family and/or friends?

Always, even most of my siblings and both parents are fairly green. Kim is my biggest fan, but the kids think that their dad is a middle aged hippy, but still pretty cool! They even go to rally’s with me.

So, now I get to tag three more green bloggers. So here are the lucky recipients.

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About Gavin Webber

Gavin Webber's daily goal is to live a more sustainable lifestyle, in an effort to reduce his family's environmental footprint so we can all make a difference for our children & future generations to come.

Comments

A friend of mine got a mate who was good with fibeglass to make a “bucket’ for want of a better description to put in the shower it has a hose and tap thingy on the bottom she stands in it when she showers and then puts the hose out the swindow turn the tap on and empties it into a tank for watering the plants. She has a mark on the side for telling her how much water she has used (nikko pen and a ruler very technical!!)

Gav, Gosh, thanks for the award. Not an IT specialist like you so if its ok I will be bending some of the rules. Thanks so much. Daisy I love that idea. Umm am wondering who is Tanya Ha? I don’t watch much tv etc so have no clue who it is!xoxoxox

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About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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Podcast Reviews

Always inspiring and entertaining!

August 4, 2016 by floriographer from Australia

I've crowed about Gavin's podcast before but I just have to recommend it once again - I love that he shares his learning as well as his successes - it helps the rest of us try try try again! Thanks Gavin!

ms

July 22, 2016 by Ketaea12 from New Zealand

I really enjoy listening to Gavin, he has a kind lovely voice. He covers some great relevant topics for the everyday greenie. With lots of tips or how to or what not to do.
Thanks Gavin, love it!!

Well worth your time to tune in

October 23, 2015 by A Vision Splendid from Australia

I can highly recommend Gavin’s podcast !
I have followed Gavin’s blog since the very beginning and have loved to see his journey unfold. Gavin has a lovely speaking voice so this podcast is always very easy to listen to.
Gavin has a very authentic approach to his green living lifestyle. He shares the ups and downs but always provides motivation and practical steps that we can all implement.

very good

June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

opened my eyes

May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

A wonderful show!

Inspiring

April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

Green Living, inspiring and practical

January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

Local food equals less waste

December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

Honestly australian

December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

Morning motivation

December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

Passionate Advocate

October 18, 2014 by BoomOpGirl from Australia

Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

Gavin speaks from the heart

October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

Green thoughts, so well iterated

October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

Easy listening inspiration on being green

September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

Thanks Gavin!

August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm

August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

Green Podcasts

July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

Practical ideas and inspiration

July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

Interesting & easy to listen to

April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

Great green listen

April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese